Methods, Systems, and Apparatuses for Automated Confirmations of Meetings

1. A method for confirming attendance of a meeting, the method comprising the steps of: a computer storing parameters for the meeting, wherein a first parameter of the stored parameters identifies at least one prospective attendee of the meeting, and wherein a second parameter of the stored parameters identifies a category of attendance for the at least one prospective attendee; the computer calculating a desired time at which to send a confirmation request, the desired time being calculated based on a pre-defined amount of time before the meeting; and the computer, responsive to determining that the desired time to send the confirmation request is equal to an actual system time, determining a delivery method of the confirmation request based on the category of attendance of the at least one prospective attendee and sending the confirmation request to the at least one prospective attendee.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: the computer sending an event invitation to the at least one prospective attendee to invite the at least one prospective attendee to attend at least one event of the meeting; and the computer receiving a response to the event invitation.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of the computer receiving a response to the confirmation request.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of the computer determining an alternate arrangement of events for the meeting based on the response.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of the computer receiving a response to the confirmation request comprises the computer receiving one of an instant messaging (IM) message, an e-mail message, and a short message service (SMS) message.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of the computer scheduling the meeting.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of the computer determining an arrangement of events for the meeting based on preferred time slots for events of the meeting, wherein the preferred time slots are received from a plurality of prospective attendees of the meeting.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the computer sending the confirmation request comprises the computer sending a confirmation request for an event of the meeting.

9. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the computer, responsive to receiving the response to the confirmation request, performing at least one of the steps of: canceling the meeting; rescheduling the meeting; notifying a meeting coordinator of the response to the confirmation request; notifying at least one prospective attendee about the response to the confirmation request; updating status information of the meeting in a calendar application; and determining an alternate arrangement of events of the meeting.

10. A computer system for confirming attendance of a meeting, the computer system comprising: one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to store parameters of the meeting, wherein a first parameter of the stored parameters identifies at least one prospective attendee of the meeting, and wherein a second parameter of the stored parameters identifies a category of attendance for the at least one prospective attendee; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to determine a desired time at which to send a confirmation request to the at least one prospective attendee of the meeting, the desired time being calculated based on a pre-defined amount of time before the meeting; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to determine a delivery method of the confirmation request based on the category of attendance of the at least one prospective attendee; and program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to automatically send the confirmation request to the at least one prospective attendee of the meeting in response to determining that the desired time at which to send the confirmation request has arrived.

11. The computer system of claim 10 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to accept the parameters for the meeting.

12. The computer system of claim 11 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to accept parameters related to a start time of the meeting, an end time of the meeting, a meeting date, and a time at which a confirmation request is to be sent.

13. The computer system of claim 10 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to send at least one invitation to at least one prospective attendee of the meeting.

14. The computer system of claim 10 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to select an alternative arrangement of events of the meeting based on at least one of a response to the confirmation request, a modification of the parameters by a meeting chair, and whether an event of the meeting is on schedule.

15. The computer system of claim 14 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to send invitations based on the alternative arrangement.

16. The computer system of claim 14 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to send confirmation requests based on the alternative arrangement.

17. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to notify a meeting coordinator about responses to the confirmation requests.

18. A computer program product for confirming attendance of a meeting, the computer program product comprising: one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to store parameters for the meeting, wherein a first parameter of the stored parameters identifies at least one prospective attendee of the meeting, and wherein a second parameter of the stored parameters identifies a category of attendance for the at least one prospective attendee; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine whether a desired time at which to send a confirmation request has arrived, the desired time being calculated based on a pre-defined amount of time before the meeting; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine a delivery method of the confirmation request based on the category of attendance of the at least one prospective attendee; and program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to automatically send the confirmation request in response to determining that the desired time at which to send the confirmation request has arrived.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to solicit input of the parameters for events of the meeting from prospective attendees.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to receive responses to a plurality of confirmation requests.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to notify a meeting coordinator of the responses.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to reschedule an event of the meeting based upon a response of the at least one prospective attendee.

23. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine an arrangement of events for the meeting.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to schedule an event of the arrangement in a calendar application of the at least one prospective attendee.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to detect when an event of the meeting occurs at an unscheduled time.

26. The computer program product of claim 25 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to send notifications to prospective attendees due to the event occurring at the unscheduled time.

27. The computer program product of claim 25 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to send confirmation requests based on the arrangement, wherein the arrangement is based upon the event occurring at the unscheduled time.

28. The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein the program instructions to determine the arrangement select an alternative arrangement based upon a response to the confirmation request.

29. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to configure a variable time to send the confirmation request.

30. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to indicate that a time slot for an event of the meeting is either reserved or pending in a calendar application of the at least one prospective attendee.

31. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of the computer scheduling the meeting comprises the computer making an entry in a calendar application.

32. The method of claim 1 , wherein the category of attendance is selected from the group consisting of: mandatory, desired, suggested, requested, and offered.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivery method of the confirmation request is selected from the group consisting of: an e-mail, a page, an instant message, and a telephone message.

34. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the category of attendance is selected from the group consisting of: mandatory, desired, suggested, requested, and offered.

35. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the delivery method of the confirmation request is selected from the group consisting of: an e-mail, a page, an instant message, and a telephone message.

36. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the category of attendance is selected from the group consisting of: mandatory, desired, suggested, requested, and offered.

37. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the delivery method of the confirmation request is selected from the group consisting of: an e-mail, a page, an instant message, and a telephone message.